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To broadcast an online radio station on YouTube Live, route its audio through an encoder such as OBS Studio, pair it with a still image or other visual, and send the encoded feed to YouTube using the stream URL and key from YouTube Studio. First confirm that your channel can live stream and that your music rights cover YouTube and any resulting recording.
What you need
The encoder is the bridge between your station and YouTube: it takes the station audio and a visual scene, then sends them as a live feed. For a basic simulcast, you can use OBS Studio on a computer and a static station image. YouTube also supports standalone hardware encoders, but paid hardware is not required to get started.
- A YouTube channel eligible for live streaming.
- The station’s audio feed, with a URL or playback method that your encoder can actually use.
- An encoder such as OBS Studio, or a dedicated hardware encoder.
- A still image, logo, or other visual for the video portion of the stream.
- Permission to broadcast the station’s content on YouTube and retain any archive YouTube creates.
Check channel eligibility and music rights first
Enable live streaming in advance
YouTube requires a verified channel with no live-stream restrictions during the preceding 90 days. If this is the channel’s first live stream, activation can take up to 24 hours. In YouTube Studio, open the live-streaming workflow early enough to confirm the feature is available before scheduling your broadcast.
Confirm rights for YouTube and the archive
A license to play music on your online radio station does not automatically establish permission to simulcast it on YouTube. You are responsible for having the necessary rights for the live content and its use on Google services, including music licensing rights from artists, record labels, publishers, and other rights participants. YouTube’s Livestream terms and conditions place that responsibility on the content provider.
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Also account for the recording: YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Make sure the rights you rely on cover that on-demand use, not just the live broadcast. Applicable licensing requirements can vary by territory and by the music and agreements involved.
Create a YouTube encoder stream
- In YouTube Studio, open Go Live to reach the Live Control Room.
- Create a new stream or schedule one, then choose the encoder workflow.
- Copy the server URL and stream key shown by YouTube. In your encoder, the URL is the destination and the key identifies the stream YouTube should accept.
- Keep the stream key private. Anyone who has it may be able to send a feed to your broadcast.
YouTube’s encoder setup guidance explains the Live Control Room workflow and connection details.
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Set up OBS to combine station audio and a visual
Add a scene and visual
- Open OBS Studio and create or select a scene for the radio broadcast.
- Add an image source for your station logo or broadcast artwork. A static visual is sufficient for an audio-focused stream.
- Check the preview so the image is framed as intended and does not obscure any text you want viewers to read.
Bring in the station audio
Try adding the station feed as a supported media source. OBS also documents a VLC video source for playlists when VLC is installed. Its source options do not establish that every online radio URL or streaming protocol will work when pasted into OBS, so test your station’s actual URL and format rather than assuming it is compatible.
If direct playback does not work, play the station in a suitable player and capture its output through the appropriate audio device in OBS. The right capture path depends on the station feed and your operating system. Avoid capturing the same device both as a scene source and as global desktop audio: OBS warns that duplicate capture can cause echo.
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OBS documents its scene source concepts in the Sources Guide, media sources in the Media Sources guide, and audio setup in the Audio Guide.
Connect the encoder, then test before going live
- In OBS, open Settings > Stream. Select YouTube as the service if available, then enter YouTube’s server URL and stream key. If your encoder offers a YouTube account connection, use the workflow it provides and confirm it points to the stream you created.
- Use a YouTube-compatible encoder preset where available. For stereo audio, YouTube’s published advanced recommendations include a 44.1 kHz sample rate and 128 Kbps bitrate. YouTube lists AAC and MP3 among its supported audio codecs. Do not assume a higher audio bitrate is necessary for the radio feed.
- Start streaming from the encoder, but do not yet click YouTube’s final Go Live control.
- Wait for the Live Control Room preview. Confirm that the correct station audio is playing, the visual is right, and OBS’s audio meter is moving.
- Listen to the preview and check for silence, clipping, distortion, or echo. If the source is silent, verify the player is running and that OBS is capturing the right device.
- When the preview is correct, click Go Live in YouTube Studio. Monitor the stream after launch for audio or connection problems.
For detailed connection and monitoring steps, see YouTube’s encoder setup guidance and live-stream troubleshooting and quality guidance.
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End the broadcast cleanly
When the broadcast is finished, end the stream in YouTube Live Control Room and stop sending from the encoder. Check the resulting archive if one is created; under-12-hour streams are automatically archived, so the recording is a separate rights consideration as well as a way for viewers to watch later.
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Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| You cannot start a live stream | The channel is not verified, has a live-stream restriction, or first-time activation is still pending. | Check channel eligibility and enable live streaming in advance; first activation can take up to 24 hours. |
| YouTube does not receive a feed | The server URL or stream key is incorrect, or the encoder has not started sending. | Compare the encoder’s stream settings with the details for the intended stream in Live Control Room. Keep the key private. |
| The visual appears but there is no audio | The station source is unsupported, stopped, or not routed to the OBS audio mixer. | Test the station feed in its player, inspect the OBS audio meter, and try a supported playback-and-capture route for your operating system. |
| The audio echoes | The same device may be captured twice, such as once as a scene source and again as global desktop audio. | Remove the duplicate capture and monitor the preview again. |
| The audio is distorted or too loud | The source or encoder input may be clipping, or monitoring levels may be unsuitable. | Listen to the preview, check OBS meters, and lower the source level until peaks are clean. |
| YouTube flags or limits the broadcast | The channel may lack required rights for music or other content, or a platform restriction may apply. | Confirm YouTube-specific live and archive rights for the material; a station’s existing distribution license alone may not establish those rights. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is an always-on YouTube channel built from uploaded recordings rather than a live feed from your radio station, StreamNeo is an alternative: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so no computer or home connection has to stay on. Each slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card; Monthly is $9.99 per month. It is for uploaded videos, not a live camera or direct online-radio feed. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
Quick Recap
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